Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1894 [PAGE 263]

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264:

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.

One must indeed hesitate about assuming a trust involving- so much oj consequence to the educational interests of the imperial State of Illinois, as well as so much of consequence to himself, and must refrain from such a step unless his mind can gain confidence t h a t all the interests involved will be promoted by taking it. My limitations in training and my total inexperience in administering the affairs of a university have combined to arouse serious apprehensions in my mind as to the wisdom of your choice. I should have had no warrant for seriously thinking of such a matter, but for the reflection t h a t your board must have felt its responsibility in the premises^ has had full time to learn of my personal characteristics, as well as of whatever work I have performed, and of such standing as I have attained in the educational affairs of the country, and must have given the fullest consideration to the question of my fitness for the exalted position to which you have called me, and but for the fact t h a t you assure me t h a t your action is approved by the deliberate and mature opinion of each member of your board. In view of all this I have felt justified in deferring to your judgment touching t h a t phase of t h e subject. Passing from this point I have endeavored to decide whether the future possibilities of the University are sufficiently promising to justify me in spending the next ensuing years of my life in its service. There is every reason for thinking t h a t the state universities are going to occupy positions of superior prominence among the universities of the country, and it is impossible to discern any reason which can content the commonwealth of Illinois in giving only such support to a state university as involves its holding a place of secondary standing and influence among the universities of the land. To enable a university to advance to a leading position, it must have financial aid to an extent which would have surprised the last generation, for the field of university operations has broadened as the activities of the people have multiplied and become more intense: it must have adequate acommodations and liberal equipment; its departments must be able to supply life-giving instruction in all branches of liberal learning; its work must attract attention, it must be authoritative and command respect, it must show anxiety and ability to stimulate the common life of the people, and bring renown to the good name of the state. Liberal moneyed support will not avail, unless there is also harmony and strength in the managing board of the faculty, as well as confidence and co-operation between them, and unless the local situation is attractive and uplifting, near which an increasing number of students can find healthful and happy homes at moderate cost. The whole must be enveloped in an air of contentment, of energy, of exalted culture, of stability and reserve power. The buildings and equipment provided and the work already done to< develop a state university in Illinois are gratifying and assuring. These, with the awakened interest of the people, and the disposition of their representatives in the legislature, as it has been portrayed to me, with the known resources of the state, and with the apparent oneness of feeling on the part of all who are bearing the responsibility of management, give excellent promise for the future of the University. With these opportunities comes the question of future policy, for the functions of a state university in the United States have not yet been well determined. My view is t h a t it is important to establish the fact t h a t a state university is the appropriate head of the state school system and should live in vital and healthful relations with all of the public educational work of the state. I t should build for classical culture, without which no people can advance, but it should not spend too much time in clearing up the involved subtilities of the dead past or of fathoming the depths of purely philosophical speculation. I would not have it thought t h a t I am indifferent to these important lines of research, b u t rather t h a t a choice of policies must be made or little will be accomplished in any direction, and t h a t public moneys should go into lines of